Cathode-ray tube support



Dec. l5, 1953 M. F. DE BOY 2,663,011

CATHODE-RAY TUBE SUPPORT 'Filed July 6, 1949 Z BY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1953 yimesile"assignrnent'ls, to Si'flvaiia lElectric yllrrodj- :.ucts Inc., f lNew York, N. Y., -a corporation 'Tof -Mass'achus'etts "saddle "andsecuring "strap where the -tule is "'iounted vhorizontally 611-'thechassisvofnfassooiated V.aoaratiis. The-*sprorting 'arrangements heretofore proposed have invo di' pose of locking the cap in place eTr-'the'iflared together' with otherfand#further"voljectsitheoi A reference f is had tto tthe folliting `description taken' Vin connection 'fwith the accompanying drawing;'and itsff'scope willbefpointed'fotlinthe appendedrclai'ms. V

1 Referring now-ff to' the "dreWingffFigresflA'fand lrespectively illustrate-affront and cross-sectional side lView voff-a cathode-ray-tubefsupport embodying -'the.;present invention and Figure 2 illustratesthe'manner'iiiwliich=thesupport`structure mayl be securedv to" the interior ofi ag housing which encloses the-- cathode-ray tube-and4 associated'apparatua -Referringfnow nore particularly l"to ='Figs. IA and 1 BV of the'dra'wing, thereisillustratedfafsupport I0 for the 4iared'enddl'fof #cathode-*ray tube I 2, ywhichl may be either a metal-'enyelope VVtype or all-glass 'envelope type -of, i'television image-reproducingetube. vThe lsuppprt Hl com- A-prisesgaunitaryfopeneboxflike vcap yor hoodA structure which preferablytrasf-a;Y rectangular crosssectional configuration s*o"thanContactl with the apart, The; support IIJ is--formedeoftnly slightly resilient-eletricallyfinsulatingsheet ina@ terialand hasgag substantially-p1anarface portion HV and Yfolded'-'l:)ac1gside. portions 'I 5 which extend lover-ar -1d engagethefrirn N,I 3 of the tiibe I2 to snpport the flared end I Ygof the tribe While restrainingit against "substantial lateral move- Mment. v.An f inwardly projecting detente or dimple 6 preferablyxpressed or votherwise suitably "f forned centrallyV of cachot-fthe sidesi 5- adjacent tainfthe'strii'ctlire l'vd flared endY Il ofthe their points of contact with 'theriin-of the tnbe I2, it--being the prpose' of f these Adililples'to' re- 2,663,011 Y y o F incre readily under the action of the dimple or detent I6 during insertion of the structure III over the flared end II of the tube and in order that they provide a somewhat more resilient or shock-resistant support for the ared end of the tube. The support structure ID may conveniently be formed by pressing or molding a material such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or relatively hard vulcanized rubber into the desired configuration.

The material of the support structure I may be transparent, in which event the face portion vthe image-reproducing area of the picture tube I2 and masks 01T from view the unused edge portions of the image-reproducing screen of the tube. It will also be apparent that the face portion I4 of the support structure engages the face of the tube I2 to provide longitudinal positioning of the tube.

When the support structure I0 is used to support a metal-envelope type of television imagereproducing tube, the depth of its sides I5 is so chosen that they project substantially beyond their points of contact with the periphery I3 of the tube I2. They are then eective substantially to reduce corona and to minimize electrical leakage of high-voltage current which tends to flow from the metal-envelope of the tube through paths extending over the surfaces of the sides I5 to any electrically conductive surface engaging the support structure I0. Since a metalenvelope type of picture tube normally operates With the metal-envelope at a potential of approximately 15,00() volts above ground potential,

it Will be apparent that a support structure ernbodying the present invention adequately insullates the tube fromnearby wood (which may absorb moisture to become conductive at this high voltage) or metal surfaces and may be arranged to provide in a simple and inexpensive manner long leakage paths from the metal-envelope to any partially or fully conductive adjacent surfaces. The support of the picture tube I2 at 90 spaced points substantially reduces the undesirable flow of static electric charge currents around the periphery of the glass face portion of the picture tube.

Figure 2 illustrates the manner in which the support structure I0 may be arranged within a housing I9 which encloses the tube I2 and associated apparatus 20 which,A for example, may comprise a television chassis. The support structure IIJ may conveniently be fastened to the cabinet I9 by means of fiber or plastic screws 2| or may be similarly fastened if desired to the chassis 20. While the cabinet or housing I9 ordinarily l will be constructed of wood which is considered an insulating material, moisture absorbed by the cabinet material or deposited on the cabinet surfaces renders the cabinet at least partially conductive at the very high voltages required for easily and readily arranged by proper selection of the depth of the sides to provide adequate electrical insulation for the picture tube, and this is true even though the support structure is mounted directly upon the metal chassis 20. The rear end of the picture tube I2 is supported by a bracket 22 fastened to the tcp of the cabinet or housing I9, the bracket 22 normally supporting and enclosing the scanning and focusing windings conventionally positioned along the neck of the picture tube. A ring or collar 23 of resilient rubber may provide the actual support of the picture tubeV I2 from the bracket 22, thus cornpleting a resilient or shock-resistant support of the tube I2 Within the housing I9.

It will Abe apparent from the foregoing description of the invention that a support structure embodying the invention uniquely combines in one structure a resilient mechanical support, a decorative image mask, and an insulator for a television image-reproducing tube. This structure is of simple and inexpensive construction adapted to mass production by a simple forming or molding process. Since a minimum leakage path of one inch is required adequately to insulate the metal envelope of a metal-envelope type of image-reproducing tube, the depth of the sides of the support structure may be readily selected to provide the insulation required so that the cabinet sides and chassis can abut directly against the sides of the support structure thus minimizing the cross sectional size of the enclosing cabinet and eifecting a substantial reduction of its cost.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that-various changes and modiiications may bemade therein Without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A support for the flared end of a cathoderay tube comprising, a unitary relatively rigid open-box-like cap structure of rectangular configuration and of only slightly resilient electrical insulating sheet material for insertion over the face of said tube as a cap and having a portion for engaging said face to provide longitudinal positioning of said tube and side portions which extend over and engage the rim of said iiared end to support said end of said tube While restraining it against substantial lateral movement, a tube supporting member and means for afxing said cap structure to said member, and means secured to said member for supporting the rear end of said tube and for cooperating with said cap structure to position said tube.

2. A support for the ared end of a cathoderay tube comprising a unitary relatively rigid open-box-like cap structure of rectangular configuration and of only slightly resilient electricalinsulating sheet material for insertion over the face of said tube as a cap and having a substantially planar face portion for engaging said face of said tube to provide longitudinal positioning of said tube and folded-back side portions which extend over and engage the rim of said flared end ci said tube to support said end of said tube While restraining it against substantial lateral movement, said sides being provided with inwardly projecting dimples positioned adjacent individual points of contact of said tube with said structure to retain said cap structure in position over the iiared end of said tube.

3. An insulating support for the ared end of a metal-envelope television picture tube comprising a unitary relatively rigid open-boX-like hood structure of rectangular configuration and of only slightly resilient opaque electrical-insulating sheet material for insertion over the face of said tube as a hood and having a first substantially planar face portion positioned in opposing relation to said face and apertured to expose and frame an image-reproducing area of said tube and folded-back side portions which extend over and engage the rim of said flared end thereof at points spaced 90 apart to support said end of said tube While restraining it against substantial lateral movement, said sides having inwardly projecting dimples adjacent the points of engagement thereof with said tube to retain said hood structure on said tube and having such depth as to project substantially beyond said points of contact substantially to reduce corona and electrical leakage currents tending to ow through paths extending from said envelope over the surface of the sides of said hood structure 6 to any electrically conductive surface engaging said hood structure.

MARVIN F. DE BOY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSv Number Name Date 2,165,779 Blain July 1l, 1939 2,224,287 Busch Dec. l0, 1940 2,293,529 Bedford Aug. 18, 1942 2,354,661 Berejkoff Aug. 1, 1944 2,388,203 Zindel Oct. 30, 1945 2,428,928 Cain Oct. 14, 1947 2,440,260 Gall Apr. 27, 1948 2,458,368 Kamin et al Jan. 4, 1949 2,484,345 Hinz fOct. 11, 1949 2,497,660 Devine Feb. 14, 1950 2,503,813 Fisch Apr. l1, 1950 2,505,736 Herschel et al. Apr. 25, 1950 2,508,001 Swedlund May 16, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 520,412 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1940 600,096 Great Britain Mar. 31, 1948 

